Lifecam HD-3000 bad audio

Same problem here. I'm pretty sure it's a hardware fault of the recent models. I had a 330 Hz buzz on mine. Matt Cadwell's video has a 430 Hz buzz. The difference might be to do with sampling frequency?

In July 2020 I tried 2 lifecams, and had to return both. I tried on a PC and a laptop, and at 2 different suburbs, to rule out ground loop, OS and environment issues.

I tried a friend's older model lifecam 3000 on my laptop and there was no buzz on it.

It's a real shame because the camera and mic quality are otherwise very good for the price. I'm really hoping a new batch corrects the issue, but i'm reluctant to buy without trying first. If you're buying this for camera only, and dont need audio, it's be fine.

I can absolutely second this. I bought a third webcam now, which was built 2046, and low and behold, same issue on 3 different computers. Desktop and Laptop. Hope they fix this issue at some point, as the webcam is otherwise very decent and worth its price.

Hi, Ive been having exactly this problem as well. I even bought another webcam (same one) as I thought the first one I bought was just faulty. I tested both webcams on three different PC's and they both had the same noise on all PC's. What's important to note here is that both webcams were not detected by the driver on any PC tested. A friend of mine has had this webcam for a while, his was detected by the driver and had no noise issues. So I went to check for date they were built. The ones I bought recently were build in September 2020 (2041 and 2044), whereas my friends was built in June 2016 (1627). Im starting to believe that every webcam of this model built in 2020 or the second half of it might be faulty by manufacture. I would be interested to know whether this would align with the date of your faulty webcams.

My box says 'DATE 2042' - interestingly, I wrote my comment after trying to take a video using the camera app. Later, I have now tried a video conference in Zoom and a Messanger video call and there was no hum on either!

But I would like to make a video some time!!!

Thanks again for trying to help.

I got the pcdust download, 64 bit, but just get an error when I try and install - "the folder doesn't contain a compatible software driver"

The lifecam also hums the same on Ubuntu linux. I got a bunch of these webcams and they all do it.

So maybe it's not the software.

I could not replicate your issue. I took my hd-3000 out of my drawer and connected it to my external USB Hub. I tested with Voice Recorder and Audacity. I did not pick up any hum using the drivers I had installed or the alternate generic USB audio device driver I later changed to.  Maybe you are picking up some system/room/line noise from your AC, power supply, mainboard or other devices. Have you tried another Windows 10 machine, powered USB hub, less devices, no USB extension/replacement uplink cable (if used) or other physical location. You might want to try adjusting your mic levels or bit rate to see if that improves the condition. I did not make any adjustments to the default bit rate.

Hmm, maybe you should try to update your drivers through Driver Booster Download. Its free and works like a charm